Is "violar" a strong word?
I need to tell customers that their actions have violated the terms & conditions of their agreement. The direct translation of violated is violar, but I seem to remember from my time in Ecuador that violar is a very strong word, and is usually used when referring to rape or molestation. Is thing correct, or am I wrong?
If violar is not the best word, could someone please help me with what would be the most approprate way to say the above?
3 Answers
I would like to complement Fyyzyy's answer.
"Violar" may sound very strong when used in reference to a sexual context - and depending on the particular group of people that you are addressed. It may not be the ideal word to toss casually during a polite dinner in a fancy restaurant, for example.
But there are times and places where it is the most (or only) appropriate word.
For example, it is very common to see in the news in Latin America that some politician is accused of "violar la constitución", or "violar la ley Nº 1234..", whatever.
In other contexts, it does mean "rape"; and if the situation calls for a less direct word, then there are some alternatives, such as: "molestar"; "abusar"; "agravio"...
I have only heard the word "violar" with the meaning of "to rape."
Violate is fine too. If you want to avoid any confusion, you can use infringir, which means to infringe (on). A more technical term. And clearer too, I think.
Post Scriptum: Steve_Rivera, I must tell you, is wrong in thinking that violar = to violate is only used as a synonym of rape.
Actually, the primary meaning of to violate is legislative; hence, it deals with the breaking of the law. You can check what the Oxford Dictionary has to say about it and you will see, as everybody else, that I'm right.
However, as I said before, if you do want to avoid any confusion, use the other verb I gave you.
